The Kent Golf Partnership is launching its second year of an initiative to develop a county wide coaching programme aimed at identifying and encouraging talented junior golfers. Funds have been provided to support this initiative through the England Golf Partnership.

The first stage of this year’s programme will be the staging of Open Talent Assessment Days to identify young golfers, boys and girls, who show talent and enthusiasm for the game. KGP is to run three Assessment Days in August 2011.  Those with a disability are encouraged to take part, but if not selected will be made aware of other available programmes.

Following these days, it is planned to invite selected young people to move on to a County wide coaching programme based at KGP Academy Training Venues.  This will provide the necessary coaching support to enable the young golfers to attain their full potential and to have the opportunity to progress to the County Junior squads.  Although subsidised, once selected, there will be a nominal charge for the six month programme.

The Talent Assessment Days will be held during the School Summer holidays as follows:

• Chelsfield Lakes Golf Club, Orpington – Thursday 11^th August
• Boughton Golf Club, Faversham – Wednesday 24^th August
• Tudor Park Golf Club, Maidstone – Thursday 25^th August

Each day will follow the same pattern. There will be a two hour session of coaching and assessment run by Academy appointed coaches. The sessions will be split into three components – long game, short game and putting. There will be skills challenges plus a short discussion with one of the coaches.

If you know of a junior golfer who would benefit from this initiative, please encourage them to register for one of the Assessment Days.

Registration for the Talent Assessment Days can be completed by downloading a form from one of the following websites:

• www.kentladiesgolf.org.uk
• www.kentgolf.org
• This site: Kent Golf Search for Talent 2011 Registration Form

or from your Club Secretary, Professional or Junior Organiser.

Please email completed forms to gary@kentgolfpartnership.org.uk or post to:

Gary Bason, Kent Golf Development Co-ordinator,

Manston Golf Centre, Manston Road, Manston, Kent CT12 5BE

London Golf Club geared up to welcome a host of global stars

One of Kent’s finest golf courses is preparing to welcome a number of the world’s top talents to its fairways this weekend.

Golf LIVE 2011, the UK’s ultimate live golf event, begins at the London Golf Club on Friday and offers fans of the sport with a unique inside the ropes experience over three outstanding days of action.

European Ryder Cup-winning captain, Colin Montgomerie, leads a host of headline grabbing names who will be giving live and interactive masterclasses on tee shots, short game, bunker and approach play in specialist theatres.

The must-attend event that kicks off a show-stopping summer of golf in Kent includes appearances from major champions, top-professionals and exciting prospects such as Darren Clarke, Ian Woosnam, Michael Campbell and Pablo Larrazabal.

Thirty-one times European Tour winner Colin Montgomerie can’t wait for the start of Golf LIVE 2011. He said: “I’m extremely excited about returning to the London Golf Club this weekend for Golf LIVE 2011. No other golf event gives you the same unrivalled access to the professionals, tips from the experts, and one-to-one interaction with some of the world’s best manufacturers.

“Golf LIVE 2011 is a great event for any fan to watch, learn and improve their game whether they are a complete novice that wants to try out the sport, or a regular club golfer that needs to shave an extra stroke off their handicap.”

In addition to ‘Monty’s Masterclass’, spectators will be able to listen to the authoritative opinions of television trio, Iain Carter and Andrew Cotter from the BBC, and Sky Sports’ first lady of golf, Diana Dougherty, who will be telling tales from the Tour.

Other highlights include a three hole pro-celebrity challenge which sees Montgomerie go head-to-head with Frenchman, Thomas Levet, and BMW International Open winner, Nick Dougherty, World Long Drive Champion, Joe Miller, showing off his immense power, and trick-shot master, Jeremy Dale, illustrating even more staggering skills with a golf ball.

Visitors to Golf LIVE 2011 can also get access to an exclusive Junior Golf Academy, group tuition classes, competitions and a chance to explore the latest golf equipment from over 100 hand-picked exhibitors.

Tickets can be purchased on arrival at the London Golf Club throughout the show. For the full line-up, schedule and ticket information please visit www.golfliveevent.com

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For more information on Golf LIVE 2011 please contact Sam Feasey (samfeasey@ktbpr.com) at KTB PR on 020 7924 7214

EDITORS NOTES

Golf LIVE, this year’s must-attend golf event, will take place at the stunning London Golf Club, near Brands Hatch, in Kent on May 20-22 2011. The event gives visitors access to the highly acclaimed Jack Nicklaus-designed Heritage Course, the driving range, putting green and other facilities.

Ticket Information

Standard Ticket

Price: £45

Ticket includes: Entry to the event, access to the masterclass theatres and hub

Season Ticket

Price: £89

Ticket includes: Entry to all three days of the event and access to masterclass theatres and hub

VIP Ticket

Price: £75

Ticket includes: Entry to the event, access to the masterclass theatres and hub, exclusive access to VIP tent in the heart of the event, overlooking the 18^th hole and Monty’s Masterclass. Glass of Champagne on arrival, private bar, player Q&A session.

To buy your tickets go to www.golfliveevent.com or call 0844 847 2407

Follow us at www.twitter.com/GolfLIVE and www.facebook.com/golfliveevent

Search starts for young golf volunteers for The Open

The Kent Golf Partnership is searching for young people to act as volunteers when The Open championship is played at Royal St Georges, Sandwich, in July 2011.

There’s a host of roles for volunteers aged 16-25, such as helping in the media centre – where they could rub shoulders with the likes of Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell – or working in the tented village.

The Kent Golf Partnership – which wants to use The Open Legacy to grow the game of golf in the county – is seeking suitable candidates for these volunteer roles.

But first, they’ll have to prove their commitment by becoming Kent Golf Young Ambassadors and helping with competitions at local projects.

These include schemes to encourage adults and children to try golf for the first time, Feel Inspired sessions for disabled people to experience the sport, and county academy sessions to help children aged 11-16 to improve their skills. These initiatives are run at a range of centres across Kent.

All new volunteers will be trained during March and April and will help with competitions during May and June. Those who are subsequently selected to volunteer at The Open will be on duty at Royal St Georges, Sandwich, on selected days from July 10-17.

The closing date for applications is Sunday, 27 February 2011. For further information, including an application form, please contact Andrew Willems at awillems@englishgolfunion.org or 07715 055 509.

For more information contact:

Gary Bason

Golf Development Officer, Kent Golf Partnership

07791 308 596

gary@positiveimpactgolf.co.uk

www.kentgolfpartnership.org.uk

EDITORS NOTES:

The Kent Golf Partnership brings together the men’s, women’s and professionals’ county organisations to grow the game in Kent. County Golf Partnerships are part of the England Golf Partnership’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and an integral part of its vision to ‘Grow the Game’. The England Golf Partnership (EGP) is a partnership between the English Golf Union (EGU), English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA), the PGA, and supported by the Golf Foundation and Sport England.



Trials throughout the County were held between October 2007 and May 2008 with over 400 schools and 25,000 to 30.00 children taking part in 14 different sport of which TriGolf was one.Boys and girls from primary, secondary and special schools from years 3 to 11 competed.

The Games were led jointly by KCC Communities Directorate and Children, Families and Education Directorate. They are being developed through a partnership involving School Sport Partnerships, Specialist Sports Colleges and governing bodies of sport; all managed by KCC Sport, Leisure and Olympics Service and Advisory Service Kent.
13 teams of 10 children from different areas in Kent competed in 11 different challenges using TriGolf equipment. Canterbury were the eventual winners with East Kent Coastal runner-up and Thanet in third place.Carol McDonald from the Golf  Foundation did a wonderful job organising the TriGolf. This was no mean feat as she had 130 children, their teachers and supporters to keep in check!

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Representatives from Kent Sports Development, Kent Golf Union, Kent County Ladies Golf Association and the Golf Foundation were also in attendance.

Jim Pocknell, the Partnership Chairman, along with Andy Willems, Regional Development officer for the English Golf Union, gave a presentation outlining the aims of the Partnership and the Development
Plan for 2008 to 2010.

Sheena Pitchford representing Kent Sports Development gave an overview of County Sports Development in general.
A little light relief was provided by Carol MacDonald of the Golf Foundation in the form of Tri Golf which was available to anyone wishing to “have a go”.

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